KABUL, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Five powerful explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), which are commonly seen in Iraq, have been found in Afghanistan this year, but these sophisticated bombs apparently are not connected to those used in Iraq, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Wednesday.

    Five EFPs, which can penetrate armed vehicles and have caused numerous civilian and military casualties in Iraq, were found in Afghanistan this year, Col. Tom Kelly, deputy chief of ISAF counter-bombs operations, told a press conference.

    The first EFP exploded south of the Afghan capital Kabul in January, but caused no casualties, Kelly said, adding the other four were captured either in the western Herat province bordering Iran or in Kabul before they went off.

    This is the first time that EFPs were found in Afghanistan. This new trend has caused lots of attention and concerns among international troops deployed here, as Iraq-style bombs would greatly strengthen militants and terrorists here if transferred into Afghanistan.

    However, Kelly said "We don't see Afghanistan and Iraq are associated on the improvised explosive devices (IEDs). We think Afghanistan and IEDs seen in Afghanistan really have their own unique signature."

    He also said it seems that militants in Afghanistan now still intend to use simple roadside or suicide bombs and haven't skillfully grasped the know-how of detonating EFPs as the EFP technology is much more complex.

    Kelly said "Some EFP components may be made in Iran, but it doesn't necessarily mean the Iranian government is behind it," as some explosive materials maybe are trafficked into Afghanistan by "criminal elements."

    He said "There have been a total of 156 innocent Afghan citizens killed and 435 Afghan civilians injured by insurgent suicide or roadside bombings so far in 2007."

    The most seriously hit region is the southern Kandahar province, a stronghold of Taliban militants, followed by Kabul and the southern Helmand province, he added.

    Kelly said the suicide bombers mainly are "single males between the ages of 15 to 24 years old," and "are typically clean-shaven and wear traditional clothing and using small sedans like Toyota Corollas or Hyundais."

    Over the past two years, Afghanistan has suffered much more suicide bombings as militants in this country are copying the tactics from Iraq.

    About 140 suicide bombings occurred in Afghanistan in 2006, compared to 21 in 2005 and only six in 2004.

    Afghanistan has also witnessed a spate of suicide bombings this year.

    Only on Wednesday, a suicide bomber targeted a Turkish convoy in Kabul, injuring one soldier and one Afghan civilian, while another suicide blast killed three Afghan policemen and injured four others in the eastern Khost province.